Grain-drier



R. HENEAGE.

Grain Drier.

No. 58,254. Patented" Sept. 25,. 1866.

FFICE.

ROBEltT HENEAGE, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

GRAIN- DRIER.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 58,254, dated September 25, 1866.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT HENEAGE, of the city of Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Apparatus for Drying Grain and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a central vertical section of m machine. Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical section of one of the revolving distributing-disks, together with the hopper and stationary annular guards. .Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the line :0 m, Fig. 1. Fig. 4: is detached view of the pulverizing and distributing disk. Fig 5 is a fragmentary section through one of the air passages of the distributing-disk. Fig. 6 is an exterior elevation of the exhaust-pipes. Fig. 7 is a plan view of the interior side of one of said pipes, showing the eduction apparatus.

Like letters indicate corresponding parts in all of the figures.

The object of my invention is to effect the rapid desiccation of damp grain. by means ofa compact and cheaply-operated machine;

and it consistsin the employment of a se-.

ries of revolving disks provided with annular distributors, and, in connection therewith,

air-passages and annular guards to intercept the grain; and, also, in the employment of a hollow cone within a heater, into which the moist grain first enters, and in the peculiar construction of a revolving pulverizing-disk for disintegrating lumps or clods of the grain;

and, further, in the arrangement of a series of exhaust-pipes, in combination with hoppers or conical diap'hragms, which separate the distributing-disks, for the purpose of exhausting the moisture and vapor which is expelled from the grain.

As represented in the drawings, Ais the bottom or foundation of the machine, from which extend upward the sides B B of a tower or close case, of cylindrical or polygonal form. This case is divided horizontally at intervals into several equal, or nearly equal, spaces by means of the diaphragms O O, which are made conical, with openings in the center, to serve the additional purpose of hoppers to receive the scattered grain and conduct it to the distributers. In a step in a suitable cross-bearing, D, at the lower part of the machine runs an upright shaft or spindle, E, provided with a journal and bearing, 6, at the top, and a bevel-pinion, f, driven by the bevel-gear which is on the horizontal drivin g-shaft g. Attached to and revolving with this shaft is a series of rotating disks, F F, the construction of which will be more particularly described hereinafter, each occupying one of the spaces between the diaphragms G. The number of said diaphragms and spaces, each provided with its distributin g-disk, may be increased indefinitely, according to the altitude of the space in which the apparatus is erected and the capacity it is desired to have.

The grain enters the machine by the feedhopper Gr at the top. This is situated in a close heating-chamber, H, which is occupied by a metallic cone, I, the apex of which comes just below the discharge-opening of the hopper, so that the grain, in falling upon it, diverges in every direction in athin sheet over the surface. The cone, being hollow and open at the base, receives hot air, which is supplied through the tube K and induction-opening a, and, as it presents a large surface over which the grain is thinly difl'used, it proves an efficient agent in commencing the process of desiccation by evaporating the surface moisture. From the cone the grain descends through the spout b, which discharges it on the pulverizing-disk L, which is attached to and revolves with the shaft E. This disk is provided on its upper surface with angular projections e 6, (shown most clearly in Fig. 4,) arranged radially around its center in two or more rows.

'They present a sharp knife-like edge, being triangular in crosssection, and diminish in size, so as to present a series of points con verging toward the center. The object of this device is to break and pulverize any masses which may have adhered from the dampness of the grain, and to distribute the kernels evenly by the centrifugal action produced by the motion of the disk, so that they fall from its periphery equally upon all sides of the first diaphragm or hopper G. From this hopper they descend convergingly till they again fall through the central opening onto the first desiccatingdisk F. This consists of a horizontal disk, preferably of sheet metal, with a series of concentric inclined rings or ledges, d 01, (most clearly shown in Fig. 2.) Intermediate between these inclined rings are suspended vertical rings 0 c from the diaphragms O O, or otherwise suitably supported. As the grain falls on the revolving disk its rotation is sufficiently rapid to throw it outward by centrifugal force, and the inclined ledges d d act as guides to carry it upward, so that it strikes the vertical rings 0 c, which cause it to again fall to the surface of the disk, when it is again falls on the next conical diaphragm O, by

which it is conveyed to the next disk, which is constructed in the same manner, and this process is repeated through each of the sectional divisions of the apparatus, until the grain has reached the bottom, where it is discharged through the conical passage M.

The apparatus is supplied with hot air through the pipe K, which has an inductionpassage, 0, into each one of the spaces or divisions of thecylinder. The revolving disks F are also supplied with air passages or perforations 11 t, each of which is provided with two funnel-shaped shields, jj, those on the lower side having their months in the direction of rotation to collect the air, and those above in the opposite direction to discharge it through the falling grain in its course over the disk, as previously described, and also to prevent the orifices from being closed by kernels lodging in them.

An exhaust-pipe, O, is provided on the opposite side of the case to remove the moisture evolved from the grain, and to maintain a constant and'rapid current of air through the machine. The exhaust-current may be produced by a suction-fan or in any other convenient manner. The pipe 0 has several branches, p

p, each of which is connected with one of the (11VlSlOI1S of the cylinder by a cross or T pipe,

8, (shown in Fig. 7,) having several apertures sections, is incased by a tube, q g, which prevents the grain coming in contact with it, or approaching so near the center as to escape the influence of centrifugal force. Another provision is made against any tendency of the grain to lodge in the angle formed by the disk F and inclined ring d by the arrangement of the guards j at that point, as their inclined shape raises the kernels from the surface of p v the disk and keeps them in motion.

The effect of my apparatus is to propel the a 'rapid removal of the air through the system of exhaust-pipes, freshly-heated and dry air bein g freely introduced to replace it.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The heating-cone I, in combination with the induction-chamber H and spout orhopper Gr, said cone being supplied with hot air or-its equivalent, substantially'inthe manner and for the purpose set forth. I

2. The pulverizing and distributing disk L, constructed and operating substantially as described.

3. The desiccating disks F, provided with the inclined annular flanges dd and air-passages and shields i j, in combination withthe curtains c c or their equivalent, substantially as shown and described.

4. The combination and arrangement ofthe desiccating-disks F F, constructed as above described, with the diaphragms O O, the whole operating substantially in the manner and for the purpose specified.

5. The induction hot-blast tube K and ex haust-tube O, in combination with the series of sections or divisions of the cylinder, each provided with a desiccating device,-and said tubes havingdistinct connection with each division, substantially as set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses. I

ROBTL HENEAGE. Witnesses JAY HYATT, LYMAN P. PERKINS. 

